Meet the Team

Management team:

Why Haka Lodge is awesome:

We're all buddies! Guests are like family, & we have super clean & comfy facilities so you feel right at home. Our staff are all well-travelled so have lots to talk about & know the best local spots in town 🙂

Favourite local activity:

Waiheke Island baby! 1. There's heaps of wineries. 2. The beaches are beautiful. 3. It has its own micro-climate so you immediately feel like you're on summer holidays. 4. Did I mention the wineries?

Top tip - don't waste time!:

There's so much to see & do - surfing in Raglan, checking out the panoramic city views from Mount Eden, jumping off the Sky Tower or the Harbour Bridge... Get amongst it - this is THE PLACE to make amazing new friends & awesome memories.

Maria is the GM of Haka Accommodation Group, looking after a growing network of 7 properties across Aotearoa. Maria is based in Rotorua but is often traversing the country seeing our properties in both islands as well as time at our Auckland head office. Maria has had a stella career with Haka so far starting off as a Lodge Manager in Taupo, being promoted to our first ever Operations Manager role and now the GM of the entire accommodation group! Maria’s iwi is Te Arawa.

Why Haka Lodge is awesome:

We love to think outside the box! We believe hostels should be super friendly and affordable but also super clean, extra comfortable, and a little bit special! That’s why we provide hotel quality mattresses, fluffy pillows, free unlimited WiFi and experienced staff as standard.

Favourite local activity:

That’s a hard question – there are SO many activities in Queenstown to choose from! A perfect winter day would definitely include a good dose of skiing at the local resorts, followed by a hotpool session at Onsen to unwind, topped off with a night out bar-hopping – you can’t beat the nightlife in Queenie. In the summer, well there’s always skydiving, jet boating and paragliding!

Top tip for making your stay a great one:

Come and talk to us at the front desk! We’re really friendly, love a chat and are excited to help you tailor your Queenstown experience to fit you perfectly.

Eru is our cultural advisor and the purpose of his role is to enhance the cultural capability of our Haka Tourism Group staff and to ensure our tours and services are an example of cultural best practice.
Eru is also responsible for providing cultural best practice policies, Te Reo language skills, developing a scholarship for future Māori Tour Managers as well as a cultural development programme across the Haka Tourism Group. We love Eru's passion, his impressive knowledge of tikanga Māori and his ability to engage all staff across the Haka Tourism Group.

Our lodge managers:

Christchurch

Why Haka Lodge is awesome:

The passion of the people who work at Haka Lodge. We work here because we love it! And it shows from the friendly welcome you will receive on arrival, to the attention taken to ensure the lodge is ultra clean and comfy, we go the extra mile for our guests!

Favourite local activity:

For me it’s got to be the local beaches, the various walks on the Port Hills and Banks Peninsular, and the forest walks in the foothills about an hour north of the City.

Top tip for making your stay a great one:

Take a deep breathe, now let it out nice and slow... Welcome you have arrived. Haka Lodge Christchurch, your real home away from home.
Take a stroll around our gorgeous native garden, chill out in the hammock, or eat fresh veges from our garden. In cold weather rug up next to our cosy wood fire, and soak up the chill vibes or make new friends in the lounge.

Why Haka Lodge is awesome:

By virtue of the fact that installed within it is an ethos of family and a universal love for all of our fellow earth bound human beings from across the globe. Not to mention the fact that it operates with such cool, calm and collectedness, at least most of the time!

Favourite local activity:

If we are talking local in terms of Auckland, I must say, rather like an old man, I enjoy a long and lumbering stroll in the Domain, enjoying the geese with their terrifyingly beady eyes, the ducks, and of course that one solitary chicken that hangs around acting like it’s totally not weird that it’s there, which it totally is. Who can forget also the dankness that is Waihake Island, and my current stomping ground the picturesque Titirangi. In terms of the wider locality of NZ I love the beauty of both Wanaka in the south, and Lake Taupo of the north.

Top tip for making your stay a great one:

Top Tip for making your stay a great one: Be kind to everyone and everything and have an open heart towards everyone you meet, except for perhaps a Young Nat. Just kidding. Also be nice to the earth and it will return in kind to you. Don’t get hung up on the trivialities, if you don’t think something will bother you a year from now, then it ain’t worth get bothered over now!

Queenstown

Why Haka Lodge is awesome:

Haka Lodge is a home away from home, a place to relax, enjoy and make new friends. Each Haka Lodge is different, but they're all filled with the love of the team working there. We want you to enjoy your stay and nothing makes us happier than seeing a smile on your face.

Favourite local activity:

Paragliding, without a single doubt! It's so peaceful and relaxing, you just fly like a bird, the view is stunning, just a perfect moment.
Have an open minded attitude and talk to the other guests, you might make friends for life!

Why Haka Lodge is awesome:

Haka is family – plain and simple but so true.

Favourite local activity:

Hiking! Queenstown is not only the adrenalin capital of New Zealand but also a paradise for hikers with heaps of tracks and stunning views wherever you go. The best way to escape the business of the town. Or if you’re looking for the ultimate adrenalin kick, try one of the bungees or swings.

Top tip for making your stay a great one:

Be open for the Haka spirit and for Queenstown as there is soooo much to do here. If you’re not sure about what to do and where to go just ask us and we will help you to make your stay unforgettable.

Bay of Islands

Why Haka Lodge is awesome:

The quirky atmosphere, friendly staff and comfortable lounge mean you can really feel at home while you stay with us.

Favourite local activity:

Scuba Diving the Canterbury wreck and surrounding reefs – it’s eerie and amazing and in a marine reserve so there are fish everywhere! If you don’t want to get wet, then you can always check out the Bay from the sky and do the highest skydive in the North Island – 16000ft!

Top tip for making your stay a great one:

Leave your worries at home and get into the Kiwi mindset – easy going, no stress and a new adventure around every corner.

Auckland

Why is Haka awesome?

I love Haka Lodge because it's a comfortable and exciting place at the same time. Hosting a quirky selection of backpackers from around the world who are mostly having adventures and exploring this awesome country makes for some awesome conversations every day.

Favourite local activity?

Checking out some of the lesser known craft beer bars and those hidden foodie spots around the city.

Top tip for making your stay a great one?

Get to know people, go on random trips with your new friends and make the most of this environment that you're staying in.
Haka Lodge attracts some of the nicest and most adventurous people and I count myself lucky to work and live here!

Why Haka Lodge is awesome:

Having worked in 2 other hostels before, Haka is my absolute favourite. As soon as you arrive it feels so welcoming and comfortable. It is a very clean hostel with a kitchen to die for. The guests are like minded travellers from around the world and great to chat to and are always super keen to socialise in the lounge with you.

Favourite local activity:

Waiheke Island would be a top hit! There are so many things to do in one place! Wineries, beaches, forest walk, zip line and more wineries! You can even book a tour to do all these amazing activities in one day! And you get to enjoy a beautiful 45 minute ferry ride and see the city of Auckland from a different angle. The skyline is impressive!

Top tip for making your stay a great one:

Top-tip! Do and see as much as you can! Auckland and the North Island has so much to offer. I would team up with other travellers and adventure what I could. Explore and take all its beautifulness in and most importantly - Make amazing memories!

Taupō

Why Haka Lodge is awesome:

For me it’s the feeling you get stepping in any Haka Lodge. That homey, comfortable feeling which you get when you are amongst friends. As a backpacker i know how important that feeling is and at Haka that comes naturally..Besides comfortable beds and awesome staff, of course!

Favourite local activity:

Exploring the Garden City on a bike! Cruising through the Botanic garden, stopping at the Museum and grabing a cup of coffee or a quick lunch at Re:Start Mall. But if I want to chill and enjoy an afternoon at the beach I take a bike to the Sumner Beach. It is amazing and just a quick ride from the hostel!

Top tip for making your stay a great one:

Christchurch is a city full of kontrasts. On one hand you have the ruins and construction sites, but on the other hand you have beautifull parks, gardens and beaches. Take the city as it is and give it a chance. Explore it and get to know the history and the people. Once you realise how the city is constantly transforming and evolving, you will see it’s a city of opportunities and hope.

Why Haka Lodge is awesome:

Everyone in our team has been a backpacker at some point, so we all understand what our guests need after a day of traveling and being out and about adventuring. We've all been there, we get it, and we want to provide you with the best there is so you can enjoy your New-Zealand experience fully.

Favourite local activity:

There is so much to do here in Taupō it's hard to pick just a select few! I guess the perfect day would start with a hike to the top of Mt Tauhara for the sunrise, where you have a 360 degree view of the Great Lake Taupō region, followed by a skydive or a rafting trip down the Tongariro river and then a cheeky little sailing trip on the lake to the Maori Rock Carvings, just in time for the sunset.

Top tip for making your stay a great one:

Just enjoy every little moment of your experience, meet your fellow travellers, and explore beautiful Taupo and its region. And if you have any questions, just come and see us and we'll be more than happy to help you out!